1: 24 The Evolution Hypothesis. 



and it serves in no respect, when dealing with any 

 given instance, to carry with us the assurance that in 

 the bosom of immensity lie all the causes of the 

 phenomenon in question. It is drawing water with 

 a bottomless bucket. 



If the cosmos be finite and self-enclosed, embracing 



7 o 



all being and encompassed by not-being ; then equally 

 the postulate is an identical proposition ; for we have 

 excluded all causes lying outside the cosmos, when we 

 have included all being within it. In this form it is 

 also equally useless ; for it is no aid to us to know 

 that the totality of existence includes the totality of 

 causes. If, indeed, the cosmos were assumed to be 

 within the compass of experience ; if observation and 

 experiment could traverse it to its farthest boundary 

 and most profound depths, then to be assured that it 

 contains all causes could have a real significance to 

 the inquirer; but if it go deeper, higher, wider than 

 we can reach, there is still unbounded room in which 

 causes may lie hidden ; for the reality and its possi- 

 bilities are in respect of our intelligence unlimited. 



To assume a denned cosmos, therefore, including all 

 causes within itself, secures a merely visionary advan- 

 tage : but that advantage is gained at an infinite cost ; 

 for, in drawing a boundary line inclusive of all being, 

 thought has, according to Mr. Spencer, contravened 

 its primary condition and destroyed itself. 



If, again, we hold a cosmos limited in extent, the 

 manifestation of the unlimited power, and including 



